Following the lead of the other maids, Qin Huaiqiu walked towards the Zichen Palace.
The Zichen Palace was a place usually used by the Great Sheng Empire when entertaining guests. The entire palace was decorated magnificently. On the dome, there were carved beams and painted columns, with dragons and phoenixes dancing, everywhere showing the imperial might and grandeur of the Great Sheng.
As a concubine, when he entered the palace, the other ministers were already seated. He followed a very petite maid. The little maid walked past the steps and was about to climb up when Qin Huaiqiu hesitated for a moment and reminded aloud, "Um... This concubine should sit below the steps, right?"
Hearing this, the little maid turned back with a smile and said, "The order this servant received is to lead the Noble Consort De to the Fengluan seat."
Fengluan? Wasn't that the seat only for the queen?
Qin Huaiqiu's eyes widened instantly.
What he didn't know was that before he entered the palace, when the Great Sheng entertained envoys from other countries, to show respect to other countries, it was usually the Noble Consort Shu who sat in that position.
The little maid made a gesture of invitation and said, "Noble Consort De, please."
Qin Huaiqiu's legs felt as if they were filled with lead. He gritted his teeth but just couldn't lift his feet.
"Are you the Noble Consort De?" Just as Qin Huaiqiu was struggling internally, Yazeobu, who was sitting in the guest seat, suddenly laughed and said, "This general heard that the Noble Consort De is the emperor's favorite concubine. It seems it was just a rumor."
Qin Huaiqiu turned his head to look at Yazeobu. Yazeobu looked tall and burly, with broad shoulders and a strong back. His eyes when looking at people were as sharp as a wild beast's. Just thinking that this person was one of the black - clothed men who had chased him and Sikong Ting in the Fengquan Hot Spring before, Qin Huaiqiu couldn't help but feel a sudden burst of anger.
"This concubine wondered who dared to talk to me. So it's Warrior Yazeobu." Qin Huaiqiu covered his mouth disdainfully and said, "I'm really sorry. If you hadn't spoken, this concubine wouldn't have noticed you for a while."
Yazeobu wasn't angry either. He looked at Qin Huaiqiu, curled his lips, raised the wine cup in his hand towards him, and gave Qin Huaiqiu a very provocative look, saying, "So the noble consort can see clearly now?"
Qin Huaiqiu wasn't willing to show weakness either and said, "With such a big build, who can't see?"
"Oh?" Yazeobu laughed. "The noble consort must have forgotten something. This general isn't just 'big' for nothing."
Qin Huaiqiu snorted and said, "Really? Anyone can talk big."
He glanced at Yazeobu, then turned around and walked straight to the Fengluan seat. He lifted his skirt and sat down very imposingly.
Yazeobu glanced at him and then turned his gaze back indifferently.
On the other side, below the steps, the Noble Consort Shu's hand was tightly clenched under the table. She almost crumpled the silk handkerchief to pieces.
"His Majesty the Emperor is coming—" Along with Xu Xian's shrill voice, Sikong Ting walked into the hall with big strides. He was wearing a specially - made ceremonial robe today. The golden - threaded coiling dragon was engraved on the black - gold dragon robe, exuding an aura of the Son of Heaven. All the ministers and concubines stood up and said, "Long live the emperor, long live, long live!"
Sikong Ting walked step by step towards the dragon throne. Qin Huaiqiu was standing beside the Fengluan seat. Looking at him, it seemed as if Sikong Ting was walking towards him step by step. He raised his head nervously and just met Sikong Ting's gaze under the imperial crown. For some reason, he felt that Sikong Ting's eyes had never looked so bright. He suddenly remembered that many months ago, he was extremely panicked at that time. Through a layer of red cloth, he vaguely saw Sikong Ting walking towards him, who was wearing a red wedding dress at that time, just like now.
In a blink of an eye, half a year had passed in a hurry. Who would have known how they had changed from disliking each other at the beginning to this complicated relationship that even Qin Huaiqiu himself couldn't explain clearly?
A look of confusion flashed in Qin Huaiqiu's eyes. He just stared at Sikong Ting until Sikong Ting slowly walked in front of him.
Sikong Ting looked down at Qin Huaiqiu, who was looking up at him. He looked a bit cute, with big eyes full of confusion and innocence, just looking directly at him calmly.
Sikong Ting suddenly laughed. His smile was bright and sincere, like the bright stars in the night sky floating down from the Milky Way and falling into Qin Huaiqiu's eyes.
"Is there something on my face?" Sikong Ting lowered his head and whispered in his ear in a voice only they could hear.
This action was like the emperor walking in front of the dragon throne and embracing the Noble Consort De in front of all the ministers in the court. Everyone below saw it clearly. Smart people naturally knew that from then on, the status of the Noble Consort De in the palace had been publicly recognized by the emperor. Any previous suspicions and rumors were no match for such a subtle action of Sikong Ting. The title of the Noble Consort De as the "prospective queen" was an iron - clad fact announced to all the civil and military officials in the court.
The Noble Consort Shu looked at the two people on the steps. Her eyes were red, and tears were already welling up in her eyes.
Qin Huaiqiu stiffened his body and let Sikong Ting half - hug and half - hold him. He didn't make any move because he really couldn't tell how he felt at the moment. Being held like this by Sikong Ting, he didn't feel the slightest bit of resistance deep in his heart. Although he knew that he wasn't deliberately convincing himself with the reason of "I'm Qin Huailian".
What was wrong with him?
Qin Huaiqiu opened his eyes wide, with confusion and helplessness in his eyes.
Under the imperial crown, Sikong Ting looked at him, then straightened up. His dark eyes scanned the hall once and he said in a deep voice, "All of you may rise."
The ministers below all sat down one after another. Qin Huaiqiu also withdrew his thoughts and sat down obediently.
After Sikong Ting announced the start of the banquet, the music and dance were presented one by one according to the established process.
After Sikong Ting's deliberate action at the beginning, all the ministers also knew the current situation. The Noble Consort Qin was, after all, the daughter of Qin Feng, the number - one military general of the current dynasty. Moreover, there was Yazeobu, a man from Loulan, here. Many ministers wanted to take this opportunity to mock Loulan in order to make a good impression in front of Qin Huaiqiu. Amidst the clinking of wine cups, there were more praises for the Noble Consort De. Yazeobu naturally understood this, but he was like a general in full control of the situation. The corners of his mouth always remained slightly upturned, completely indifferent to the sarcastic remarks from the outside world.
Except for a polite welcome to the Loulan mission at the beginning, Sikong Ting never talked to Yazeobu again. He seemed to be enjoying the singing and dancing, but in fact, he had been secretly observing Yazeobu's expression.
Whether Yazeobu's calmness was deliberate or real, it made Sikong Ting pay much more attention to him.
As for Qin Huaiqiu, he just buried his head in eating after sitting down and didn't say a word.
When the banquet was in full swing, Wu Qiuyang got drunk. Encouraged by a few military - officer friends, he directly raised his wine cup towards Yazeobu and said loudly, "It's said that people from Loulan are good at riding, shooting, and single - combat. Warrior Chief of Loulan, would you like to have a match with this minister?"
Yazeobu looked up at him and said disdainfully, "In our Loulan, we only have matches with people of the same level. You're not worthy."